US student visa will now require Social Media details

June 4, 2017, 11:41 AM IST

HYDERABAD: The US will monitor activities of the US-bound students on Social Media. Those who will opt go to the US on F-1 visa for their higher studies, they will be scrutinised on what they share on social media platform by US authorities.

Ganesh Valmiki, CMD of a Valmiki Group, asks the students not to post any messages against Trump administration or about hate crimes or even messages like ‘Goodbye India’ or ‘Thank God I am leaving the country for good.’ These messages will create suspicion in their minds thereby affecting the student’s chances for admission in a US college, reported DC.

As per the reports from Washington, the screening of the students has become vigorous regarding the social media which implemented from May 25 this year. These were not the parameters of security earlier, US officials had enquired about students along with financial documents, details of the college of admission, also details of social media accounts last year.

According to US officials, consular officers can demand extra information from applicants who they feel “require more rigorous national security vetting.” Such visa applicants will be asked to provide additional information, including their social media handles, prior passport numbers, additional information about family members, and a longer history of past travel, employment, and contact information.

US authorities said these changes will affect only a fraction of more than 13 million annual visa applicants worldwide.

Questionnaire informs applicants that individuals who do not provide all the requested information may be denied a US visa, and providing all the information is mandatory.

Meanwhile, a student who has a US visa appointment soon stated that there was no mention of social media account details in the paperwork she had done.